{"id":17926,"date":"2016-03-26T07:35:47","date_gmt":"2016-03-26T11:35:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=17926"},"modified":"2016-03-26T07:35:47","modified_gmt":"2016-03-26T11:35:47","slug":"guest-post-building-a-magnetic-loop-antenna-broadband-amplifier-for-your-sdr","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2016\/03\/guest-post-building-a-magnetic-loop-antenna-broadband-amplifier-for-your-sdr\/","title":{"rendered":"Guest Post: Building a magnetic loop antenna & broadband amplifier for your SDR"},"content":{"rendered":"

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor,\u00a0Dave Gahimer (K9ZCE) for the following guest post:<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

\"Loop-Antenna\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Small Magnetic Loop Antenna with Broadband Amplifier for SDR Reception<\/strong><\/p>\n

by Dave Gahimer (K9ZCE)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Those with limited space, or antenna restrictions, might find a small 1 meter loop antenna a solution.<\/p>\n

My son lives in an apartment. One Loop leaning against a wall gives him acceptable reception with the SDRPlay RSP on the ground floor–2nd or 3rd level flats should have very good reception.<\/p>\n

Ten meters off the ground outside should give reception equal to any SWL antenna. We all with SDRs fight the image problem. Normal resonate ham band antennas show too strong reception of unwanted bands\/stations. Did I mention noise? Loops are well known for \u20136 db noise reduction.<\/p>\n

Then there is the possibility of SDR chip damage from your 1.5 KW station! In researching Loops we came across LZ1AQ. A Brilliant design \/engineer (http:\/\/www.lz1aq.signacor.com\/<\/a>). Deep reading sometimes, but a great understanding of what makes a good receiving loop antenna.<\/p>\n

Those who chase DX know that sometimes fading is caused by the signals’ polarization changing in the Ionosphere. Having both vertical and<\/em> horizontal loops, and the ability to combine both signals diminishes this fading problem. Being able to filter the powerful, commercial FM transmitters diminishes image problems. Clipping strong signals at the antenna from very near powerful antennas\/transmitters could save the SDR receiver from damage.<\/p>\n

The LZ1AQ broad band Amp solves all these problems. http:\/\/active-antenna.eu\/amplifier-kit\/.<\/a><\/p>\n

My son Ted and I built three, one meter loops from soft \u00bd inch copper plumbing tubing. One for his apartment, two for my crossed loops antenna. We weather proofed the Copper from corrosion by coating with outdoor clear spar varnish. We shaped the circle by drawing the tubing around a round glass top patio table.<\/p>\n

The soft copper loop in held by white PCV plastic plumbing pipe. 1\u201d or 1.25 inch schedule 40. Be careful to check that the PVC is schedule 40, thick wall. The thin wall pipe is not strong in the wind and will crack when you try to drill it.<\/p>\n

Drill up to a 3\/8 hole for the \u00bd\u201d copper tube to go through, then file out to fit.\u00a0Here are some photos (click to enlarge):<\/p>\n

\"crossed<\/a> \"crossed<\/a><\/p>\n

Check out\u00a0these links (all courtesy of LZ1AQ) to acquaint yourself with the loop construction and amplifier installation:<\/p>\n

http:\/\/active-antenna.eu\/tech-docs\/2_ActiveAA_Mount_20.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

http:\/\/active-antenna.eu\/tech-docs\/1_ActiveAA_DandS_20.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

http:\/\/active-antenna.eu\/tech-docs\/3_ActiveAA_Antena_11.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

Many SDR receiver owners have seen improved noise and Image reduction by placing the plastic cased SDR unit on a small shielded\/ grounded case.<\/p>\n

\"crossed<\/a><\/p>\n

The Amp needs 12VDC from in the shack. The Amp has two relays that you can switch, from in the shack, to select Vertical or Horizontal loops, or a dipole. The loop amp connects back to the shack via a shielded\u00a0<\/em>Cat 5 cable, Make sure you get shielded CAT 5 to reduce noise pickup. Make sure you provide an adequate good Ground below the antenna, less noise pickup and lightening protection.<\/p>\n

\"crossed<\/a><\/p>\n

Have fun!
\nDave, K9ZCE
\nRetired from EE Dept @ Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
\nTerre Haute, Indiana<\/p>\n

\n

Thank you so much, Dave!<\/strong> <\/em><\/p>\n

Readers: yesterday I saw Dave’s loop antenna photos on the SDRplay RSP Facebook page<\/a>. I was fascinated by his horizontally\/vertically oriented loops and asked if he would write up a short guest post. \u00a0He kindly obliged in a matter of hours!<\/em><\/p>\n

If you have an antenna project you’d like to share, please contact me<\/a>. So many SWLs and ham radio operators live in areas with restrictions and pervasive RFI–projects like Dave’s can revive one’s radio life!<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor,\u00a0Dave Gahimer (K9ZCE) for the following guest post: Small Magnetic Loop Antenna with Broadband Amplifier for SDR Reception by Dave Gahimer (K9ZCE) Those with limited space, or antenna restrictions, might find a small 1 meter loop antenna a solution. My son lives in an apartment. One Loop leaning against a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[4199,3607,8,3194,545,627,3,43,1113],"tags":[4890,1643,4891,4358,4359,4105,4357,3417],"class_list":["post-17926","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-accessories","category-antennas","category-articles","category-guest-posts","category-ham-radio","category-how-to","category-news","category-shortwave-radio","category-tutorials","tag-antenna-projects","tag-antennas","tag-dave-gahimer-k9zce","tag-homebrew","tag-homebrew-mag-loop-antenna","tag-how-to","tag-mag-loop-antennas","tag-magnetic-loop-antennas"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-4F8","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":15382,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2015\/10\/tonys-homebrew-mag-loop-antenna-and-amplifier\/","url_meta":{"origin":17926,"position":0},"title":"Tony’s homebrew mag loop antenna and amplifier","author":"Thomas","date":"October 31, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Yesterday, Tony (K3DY), shared a video (via Twitter) demonstrating his new home brew loop antenna and amplifier. This is actually a great demonstration of how even a relatively simple, inexpensive loop antenna can improve reception in locations with heavy radio interference. Tony includes the following notes with his video: \"Testing\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Antennas"","block_context":{"text":"Antennas","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/antennas\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Fullscreen capture 10312015 115110 AM","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Fullscreen-capture-10312015-115110-AM.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Fullscreen-capture-10312015-115110-AM.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Fullscreen-capture-10312015-115110-AM.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":24400,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/02\/the-w6lvp-magnetic-loop-antenna\/","url_meta":{"origin":17926,"position":1},"title":"The W6LVP magnetic loop antenna","author":"Thomas","date":"February 24, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Troy Riedel, who asks: Just curious if you or anyone you know have any experience with Magnetic Loops from W6LVP? [...]Here's his eBay page - 458 feedbacks and 100%. Thank, Troy! I've never used the W6LVP loop, but the price--in comparison with other wideband\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Accessories"","block_context":{"text":"Accessories","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/accessories\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/W6LVP-Loop.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":50098,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2021\/08\/wire-antennas-vs-mag-loop-antennas\/","url_meta":{"origin":17926,"position":2},"title":"Wire antennas vs. mag loop antennas","author":"Thomas","date":"August 29, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"In the past few weeks, I've gotten a lot of questions from readers who are trying to decide if they should install a magnetic loop antenna or a simple wire antenna at their home. Obviously, most of the questions come from shortwave radio listeners, but some have come from ham\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Antennas"","block_context":{"text":"Antennas","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/antennas\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/Elecraft-KX3.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/Elecraft-KX3.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/Elecraft-KX3.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":40778,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2019\/11\/coastal-dxing-with-the-airspy-hf-discovery-and-a-homebrew-passive-loop-antenna\/","url_meta":{"origin":17926,"position":3},"title":"Coastal DXing with the AirSpy HF+ Discovery and a homebrew passive loop antenna","author":"Thomas","date":"November 25, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Last week, we packed the car and headed to coast of South Carolina. The trip was a bit impromptu but through the creative use of hotel points, we scored a two bedroom ocean front unit with a fantastic little balcony. The vacation gave me an excuse to test the new\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "AM"","block_context":{"text":"AM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/am\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Beach-Ocean.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Beach-Ocean.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Beach-Ocean.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Beach-Ocean.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":30672,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2018\/02\/indoor-shortwave-antenna-options-to-pair-with-a-new-sdr\/","url_meta":{"origin":17926,"position":4},"title":"Indoor shortwave antenna options to pair with a new SDR","author":"Thomas","date":"February 9, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Chris Freitas, who writes: \"I am thinking of the new RSP1A SDR. Would you know of a good indoor antenna that would work well with it?\" Your antenna question is simple, but the answer is complex! First off, I think the RSP1A is a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Antennas"","block_context":{"text":"Antennas","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/antennas\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/RSP1A1-1024x708.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/RSP1A1-1024x708.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/RSP1A1-1024x708.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/RSP1A1-1024x708.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":23107,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/01\/klaus-magnetic-loop-antenna-in-urban-camouflage\/","url_meta":{"origin":17926,"position":5},"title":"Klaus’ magnetic loop antenna in “urban camouflage”","author":"Thomas","date":"January 2, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Klaus Boecker, who originally posted these images of his homebrew magnetic loop antenna on the\u00a0Shortwave Radio Station Listening Facebook page. I love the design of his mag loop which easily allows for a vertical or horizontal orientation. \u00a0Kaus has discovered, in certain cases, places\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Antennas"","block_context":{"text":"Antennas","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/antennas\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Klaus-Mag-Loop-Antenna.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Klaus-Mag-Loop-Antenna.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Klaus-Mag-Loop-Antenna.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Klaus-Mag-Loop-Antenna.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17926","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17926"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17926\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17926"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17926"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17926"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}